Washing-machine.



J. J. FUCHS, Ja. WASHING MAGHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 190B.

Patented o@1:.12,19o9.

JOAN Flic/1S, Jh, @num/dion,

Witwe/osea:

MERS. wmimcwn n c JOHN J. FUcHs, an., or OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

wasnrnefMAcHrNn.-

gaat/7o.

v speciacauon of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

Application filed September 21, 1908. Serial lilo. 454,109.

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOI-1N J. FUCHS, J r., a citizen of the United States, and a lresident of Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing- Machines, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to washing machines of the class in which the articles to be cleansed are placed within a container rotatably mounted in a tubpor other receptacle containing water impregnated with soap or other cleansing agent.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine of this class of maximum efficiency in operation, of few and simple parts, and which may be constructed at a comparatively low cost.

In the accompanying drawings VFigure 1 is a sectional view of a machine embodying my invention, the section being Vtaken on a plane passing vertically through the axis of the container, and Fig. 2 is a detail section through one side of the container.

In the construction shown I provide a tub or receptacle 1, preferably made of sheetmetal and of substantially semi-spherical form.' The tub is supported by legs 2 which are shown as formed of sheet-metal bent to a U-shape and provided at the ends with flanges for riveting to the tub. The tub is provided with a cover 3V of substantially semi-spherical form, so that the receptacle formed by the tub and cover is of substantially globular form.

At opposite sides of the tub near the top thereof are formed bearings 4 for the trunnions 5 of the rotatable container. The. said container is of substantially cubical form, being made up of metal plates 6, the corners being truncated and covered by triangular metal caps 7 having flanges overlapping the adjoining side-plates land riveted thereto. On two of the said corner caps 7 at opposite corners of the cube are carried the trunnions 5. In one Vside of the container is hinged a door 8, and a button 9 is provided, as shown in Fig. 1, for holding the door closed. In each of the sheet-metal plates 6 forming the sidesvof the container are a number of lslots 10 extendingparallel with each other and with two edges of the cube. The metal between the slots is pressed inwardly to form corrugations or ribs 11 upon the inner surfaces of the container, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. One of the trunnions 5 is extended through the bearing therefor and on the outer end thereof is carried a fly-wheel 12 which is provided with a handle 13 for use in turning the same. In the bottom of the tub 1 is a discharge opening which is normally closed by a plug 14, as shown.

In the operation of the machine, the tub 1 is partly filled with hot soapy water or other cleansing medium, the articles to be cleansed are placed within the cubical container, the door of the container closed, the cover placed upon the tub, and the 4container is then rotated by means of the handle 13 on the fly-wheel, at a speed such that the clothing or other articles in the container will be tumbled about therein. Owing to the hexahedral form of the container, when the same is turned at a suitable speed the articles therein are raised and dropped and likewise moved back and forth axially of the container several times at each revolution thereof, at each movement the articles rubbing against some' of the corrugations or ribs 11 which project inwardly from the sides of the container. The water or other cleansing medium contained in the tub enters the container through the slots 10, and being repeatedly driven through the fabric of the articles to be cleansed, all dirt and foreign matter therein is quickly dissolved and removed therefrom. After the articles have been washed for a suitable length of time the machine is opened, and the articles removed, wrlmg and rinsed in the usual manner.

It will be apparent that by the cubical form of the container and the slotting and corrugating of the sides thereof, a maximum of rub-loing, agitating and cleansing action is exerted upon the articles placed therein; while by the truncating of the corners of the container and making the inclosing receptacle of substantially globular or sperical form, the size of the machine may be reduced to a minimum comparatively to the capacity of the container. Thus a small quantity of the liquid cleansing medium will fill the tub sufficiently to secure the desired action, and the machine is thereby adapted to use with cleansing processes employingv gasolene, benzine or other inflammable solvents which it is desirable to use in as small quantities as possible. It will also be obvious that by the use of metal throughoutlOO the structure the size and weight thereof may be made less, the durability thereof greater, and the fitting of the parts including the joints of the inclosing receptacle made more perfect than if wood or other materials were used which would expand when wet and therefore not reta-in their exact original form.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a washing machine, the combination with an' outer recept-acle of substantially vglobular form, of a container rotatably mounted therein, the said container being of substantially cubical form and having truncated corners, the axis of rotation of the container passing through opposite corners thereof, and the sides of the container having inwardly projecting ribs and slots between said ribs.

2. In a Washing machine the combination with an inclosing receptacle, of a container rotatably mounted in said receptacle, the container being substantially of the form of a cube having truncated corners, the sides of the container being formed by plates of sheet metal, the truncated corners formed by triangular metal plates having flanges overlapping the adjoining side plates and riveted thereto, and the side plates having inwardly extending corrugations formed therein and provided with openings between the corrugations.

3. In a Washing machine of the class de-l scribed, a container of substantially cubical form and having truncated corners, trunnions arranged at opposite corners thereof for rotatably mounting the same, and the sides of the container having inwardly projecting ribs and slots between said ribs.

4l. In a washing machine of the class described, a container of substantially the form of a cube having truncated corners, thc sides of the container being formed by plates of sheet metal having inwardly extending corrugations therein and provided with a plurality of openings, the corneis being formed by triangular metal plates having Hanges overlapping the adjoining side plates and secured thereto, and trunnions arranged at opposite corners of the container for rotatably mounting the same.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J. FUCHS, Jn.

Witnesses ROY Gr. KRATZ, D. O. BARNELL. 

